Robert Varden, Vice President, Certified Floorcovering Installers Association, announced that CFI has expanded its presence in China. Negotiations to establish a CFI satellite operation in Shanghai have been underway since last summer.

“A year’s worth of planning, negotiating and research has culminated in a partnership with the Shanghai Chemical Building Materials Trade Association,” Varden said. “Our new arrangement in China represents CFI’s first free-standing overseas operation.”

The new facility, which will be overseen by Mr. Chun Yuan Qi Director of the SCBMTA, opened its doors on September 8th of this year. Mr. Qi will report to Robert Varden, Vice President of CFI, who will remain based at CFI headquarters stateside. Introductory installation classes at the new facility are slated to commence Q4 2017.

The initial lineup of coursework will include Carpet, Tile and Stone. All classes will be taught by certified CFI instructors who were trained by lead instructors from the United States. The Asian outpost will be offering a full slate of CFI classes in all categories of flooring by Q1 2018!

“CFI has experienced phenomenal growth over the past few years,” said Varden. “We are clearly capturing the attention of the industry and making great progress toward resolving its installation crisis.”

Varden said the critical shortage of trained installers extends well beyond the United States and affirmed CFI’s commitment to addressing the problem everywhere that it exists. “We are grateful for our friends and partners in China including Mr. Qi and Mr. Jiang, Vice President of Kaili Carpet, who have helped to make the new international presence possible,” he said. “We are very excited about the opportunity not only to work with and train new students overseas, but to also continue to expand CFI’s presence throughout the world.”

For more information on CFI China, courses available in Shanghai or other information please visit: www.cfiinstallers.org, email us at clewis@cfiinstallers.org or call at (816)231-4646. Follow us on Social Media sites: Twitter, Facebook and YouTube @cfiinstallers.